Wokthy



Jan. 12 1926.

w. J. GOLDS'W ORTHY GOLF PRACTICING AND TRAiNING DEVICE Filed May 16, 1923 INVENTOR.

Patented Jan, 12, l

UNITE STATES QFEIQE GOLF PRACTICIN G AND TRAINING DEVICE.

Application filedv Mey lfi, 1923. Serial No. 639,291.

To a7Z 'IIf/LOIIL'ZZ' may concern;

Be it known that I, iiinimai J. (ionoswoR'rHY, a citizen of the United States, re-

' siding in the cityand county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Golf. Practicing and Training Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for use as a guide in practicing driving and other strokes in the game of golf and is adapted to indicate whether the stroke is being executed in the generally recognized correct manner and to aid the player in attaining the correct manner.

One object of my present invention is to provide an apparatus which can be used equally as well in doors in practice play or out of doors in actual play and the results obtained, either in distance or accuracy in either of the modes played, compared one with the other. i

In playing the game of golf it is desirable when hitting at the ball, that the head of the player should be maintained at a fixed position, both during the making of the stroke and until the ball has been hit, because it is generally recognized that the variation of the head from that position during any part of the stroke causes the player to hit the ball improperly. The use of my device will tend to train the player in keeping his head down during a stroke until and after the ball has been hit.

In the accompanying drawing an isometric view of my device is shown.

In carrying out my invention in the manvner shown a base 1 which sets upon the floor or ground is provided supporting an upright 2. A pintle 3 is rigidly connected to the upright 2 and affords a pivotal bearing around which a plate 4 is turned at one end and freely moves in the manner of a hinge or latch. The swinging end of the plate 4 is arranged in length to extend across the width of the upright 2. A portion of the free end of the plate 4 is cut away and a part of the remaining wider end, near where the plate 4 hinges on the pintle 3, is fashioned into a recessed arcuate seat 5. The arcuate seat 5 is given such a shape in order to provide a guide for a member hereinafter described and shown as moving on and over plate 4 P event the member from escaping from the plate 4 during such movement. The edge of the plate 4 included in the recessed arcuate seat 5 is beveled, thereby forming a thinner edge to that portion of the plate 4 as compared with the edge of the balance of the plate 4. The thinned edge of the arcuate seat 5 is shown serrated. The teeth of the serrated edge being arranged preferably with a set increasing the angle that the bevel of the thinned edge makes with the plane of the plate 4. V

A resilient spring 6 has one end rigidly fastened to the upright 2 by the rivets :0 and as with its other endfree and bent inwardl toward the upright 2. The spring 6 is s own in the drawing in its extreme tensed position. Normally, when other members of the device do not intervene, the spring 6 will lie along the upright 2 and lts free bent end will press with some force against the upright 2.

Numeral 7 indicates a bell or alarm rigidly fastened to the upright 2 by the rivets V and V. The alarm 7 will serve, if desired, as a rigidly secured support whereupon the plate 4 may rest when idle.

To bridge the gap, as shown'in the drawing and described hereinafter, between the head-wear on the head of the player and the plate 4 and provide a means for actuating the plate 4 a light elongated member is desirable. Several materials have been tried, out of which the elongated member may be formed, namely, metal in the shape of light steel or iron wire, wood in the shape of a bamboo strip and linen and cotton in the shape of the spun or woven cord or twine of commerce. Owing to'its adaptability for being folded or coiled, when not in use, and, when in use in this case, to produce comparatively the same results, some material of a pliable nature, from which to form the elongated member, has been found the most convenient and preferable. So while claims will be, drawn to include the forms mentioned, all capable, in this case, of being substituted one for another, the description will be confined to the preferable pliable elongated form.

A cord 8, composed of any pliable material, is provided to the one end of which a hook 9 is attached detachably hooking into the cap 10 worn by the player, A weight 11 is attached to the other end. of the p e cord 8. The cord 8 is shown provided, between its ends, with enlarged means arranged at regular distances along its length, some of them being indicated in the drawing by letter N. The enlarged means N may be formed, as shown, by knots made by knotting the cord 8 upon itself forming what is known as a single knot. Or any manner of knot may be made as desired. Or the enlarged means N may be made by fastening securely to or through the cord 8 any material that will serve to make the enlargements desired at the distances desired.

A pin 12 is provided and rigidly secured, in an upright position, to and near the extended end of the base 1. A bar 13 is provided and arranged to freely pivot on the pin 12 by means of the upright pin 12 extending through a bore provided in center of the bar 13. The bar 13 is arranged to revolve on the upright pin 12 in an horizontal plane over and above the base 1 beyond the junction of the base 1 and the upright 2.

A pin 14 is provided and rigidly secured to the upright 2. An irregular shaped tumbling bar 15 is provided and arranged to freely pivot on the pin 14: by means of the pin 14 extending through a bore in the tumbling bar 15. The lower end of the tumbling bar 15 ends above and moves free from contact with the base 1. end of the tumbling bar 15 is turned, and extended between the spring 6 and the upright- 2 until the weight of the extended portion and upper part of the tumbling bar 15 above the pin 14: is greater than the weight of the lower portion of the tumbling bar 15 belowthe pin 14-. Such overweight of the upper part of the tumbling bar 15 will give it a continuous impulse, unless restrained, to fall towards and into the junction of the spring 6 and the upright 2. The same impulse will also be exerted to cause the lower end of the tumbling bar 15 to move, away from the upright 2 out and over the base 1. The tumbling bar 15 is held at restin its upright position and such said impulse controlled by means of its lower end being made to contact against one end of the revolving bar 13, also at rest. If the alarm T is not provided, the upper end of the tumbling bar 15 may be extended to and I under the. plate 4 to serve as a support for the plate 4; when plate 4. is idle.

The numeral 16 indicates the outlines of a golf ball in the position, in relation to the device, in which it is intended that the ball should lie when hit by a club in the hands of the player wearing the cap 10 to which the cord 8 is detaehably connected by the hook 9. The ball 16 is placed upon the ground or floor close to the free end of the horizontally revolving bar 13 which extends beyond the base 1, so that, when the club of the player is made to hit the ball 16, the

The upper club will also hit the end of the bar 13 and cause the bar 13 to revolve on its pivot, namely, the pin 12. The direction in which the ball 16 will travel after being hit by the club is indicated by the arrow passing through the outlined ball 16.

The numeral 17 indicates a register rigidly connected to the upright 2 the mechanism of which register is operated by the shaft 18. The shaft 18 is in turn rigidly connected to the lingers 19 which freely revolves above the base 1. The upright 2 is shown with a part of its lower parts cut away'in order to permit the free revolution of the fingers 19. The fingers 19 are arranged to project into the path of and to be struck in succession by the horizontally revolving bar 13 in its revolutions. Such striking of the fingers 19 will, cause them and shaft. 18 to revolve and operate the mechanism of the register 17. No details of the interior mechanism of the register 17 are given as it is proposed to use some shaft operated. form of registers now in use competent to record the revolutions of the horizontally revolving bar 13, and indicate same by the means of a finger and dial as shown.

The parts being provided andassembled into operable relation as described, the player, in setting up and using the device in a golf stroke, will first bend the free end of the spring 6 away from the upright 2 into its extreme tensed position andthen swing the free end of. the plate 4. into place where it, acting as a movable stop, will, while idle, engage with and contact against the bent free end of the spring 6 and hold the spring ('3 at rest in its extreme tensed position. The spring 6 will, by means of its bent end and of its resiliency, hold the plate 4 at rest against any movement in a downward direction. The tumbling bar 15 is then moved intoits upright position and at the same time the horizontally revolving bar 13 is turned and brought to a rest so that one end thereof contacts with the lower end of the tun'ibling bar 15 and holds the same at rest. The base 1 of the device is then set upon the ground or floor upon which and over which the playing or )i'acticing is to be done. A ball 16 is placed upon the ground or floor adjacent the free end of the revolving bar 13 projecting beyond the base 1. The cord 8, with associated parts as heretofore described, is then connected to the headwear 10 of the player by the hook f). A golf club is then taken into one of the hands of the player. The player then faces the device from the side where the ball lies and for the moment stands close to if not actually over the ball. He then grasps the cord 8 near the middle thereof and lifts the weight 11 over the plate at and allows the weight 11 to come to rest just below the arcuate seat 5 and. the

J port on of cord 8 immediately above the weight 11 to lie in. and be bent over the serrated edge of the arcuate seat 5. The player then backs away from the device towards the location where his stance will be taken for the driving of the ball allowing, at the same time in retiring, the cord 8 to play through his hand so that the plate a will not be disturbed in its contact with the spring 6. lVhen the player reacl'ies his stance position he assumes an extreme erect position with the head well up and back and then releases his hold on cord 8. The weight 11 will thereupon at once drop and pull the cord 8 and the enlargements N downward over the edge of the arcuate seat 5 and exert through the cord 8 a continuous pull on the head wear of the player. The plate at being held unmoved during the down-pay of the cord 8 and enlargements. Both hands of the player will now be used to grasp the club. vVith head still held extremely erect, the player will now begin to execute his waggle in addressing the ball and shift his feet into their proper positionsallowing his head to gradually come forward and downward until he has the feel thathe is set to make the stroke. During the forward and downward movement of the head the weight 11 will again drop and pull the cord 8 and enlargements thereon still further downward over the serrated edge of the arcuate seat 5 of the held plate 4 and throughout the movement the weight 11 will maintain, through the cord 8 and the hook 9, the said continuous pull on the head-wear of the player; The player now executes the stroke and if, in the raking back of the club in the upward and ."ward swing'of the stroke, or at the top oi the back swing, or in the forward and downward swing of the stroke, or before the ball is hit by the club, or for a short instant (f time after the ball is hit by the club, he lifts his liead'the cord 8 will be pulled up ward and the enlargement thereon under the pull of the weight 11, will catch into the serrated edge of the arcuate seat 5 of the plate t and the plate 4., acting as a movable release, will be swung on its pivot out of contact with the spring 6 allowing the spring 6 to strike the alarm 7, thus audibly informing the player that his head has not teen kept down during some portion of the stroke. The club, at the time the ball is hit, will also hit the end of the revolving bar '13 causing the bar l3 to revolve which in turn will both release the tiunbling bar and hit against the fingers 19. The re leasing of the tun'ibling bar 15 will cause it to fall into the junction point of the spring 6 with upright 2 and lock the s inn; 6 against movement thereby prevent iug the spring 6 from hitting the alarm 7. Such locking of the spring 6 will indicate to the player that his head was held down until after the ball was hit. The hitting of the fingers 19 in succession by the revolving bar 13, it revolves on its pivot under the force imparted by the club, will cause the shaft 18 to revolve and operate the registering means 17, indicating to the player the force with which the ball was struck.

In practice it has been found that the alarm 7 may be omitted and the sound made by the bent end of the spring 6 hitting the upright 2 when released by the plate 4, will audibly inform the player as to a movement of his head while stroke was made. It is believed, however, that a distinct alarm will generally be preferred.

Again it has also been found that as the weight 11 is made heavier the need of a serrated edge to the arcuate seat 5 is diminished so that with a sufliciently heavy weight 11 the edge of the arcuate seat 5 may be left unserrated and the up-pull of the cord 8, with the enlargements N, bent over the plain edge of the arcuat-e seat 5 will cause the plate 4 to swing on its pivot and release the spring 6.

Again, with a sufiiciently heavy weight, the enlarged means N on the cord 8 may be dispensed with and the plain heavily weighted cord 8 bent over the serrated edge of the arcuate seat 5 will effect the desired movement of the plate 4 in the up-pull of the cord 8. In the last instance the edge of the arcuate seat 5 may be left unserrated and if the weight 11 is sutliciently increased, the desired movement of the plate t will be obtained.

Again, the enlargements N on the cord 8 may be made of material sufliciently heavy so that the enlargements N, themselves in addition to weight 11, will serve to act as weights and tense the cord 8. In such case the weight 8 is reduced to a weight and size comparable with the heavy enlargement N and the cord 8 is made to carry a larger number of the heavy enlargements N below the point where the cord 8 is bent over the arcuate seat 5 than above such point. In such case, a provided heavy enlargement N will catch into the edge of the arcuate seat 5 in the up-pull of the cord 8 and actuate the plate t as already described.

Other modifications may occur to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains and it is understood that such changes may be made. as fall within the scope of the appended claims, without dcparting from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus illustrated my invention and described the same in detail, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

. In a golf practicing and training deassociated therewith at the opposite end exerting therethrongh a continual forward and downward pull on the head of the player, a movable stop-and-release actuated by the said elongated member and the said associated means in the upward and backward movement of the head of the player, a supporting means carrying the said movable stop-and-release and permitting the movement thereof and a striking means held and released by the said movable stop-andrelease.

2. In a golf training and practicing device, in combination, an elongated pliable member provided at one end with an engaging means detachably connecting with the l'iead-wear of the player, a tensing means connected to the said elongated pliable member and exerting therethrough a continual forward and downward pull on the head of the player, a movable stop-andrelease actuated by the said tensing means in the upward and backward movement of the head of the player and a supporting means carrying the said movable stop-andrelease and permitting the movement thereof.

S. In a golf practicing and training device, in combination, an elongated pliable member, an engaging means secured to one end thereof, adapted for detachable connection with the head-wear of the player, a tensing means secured to the opposite end of the said elongated pliable member, exert ing a continual pull on and throughout the length thereof, a pivoted means in frictional contact with the said elongated pliable member and actuated thereby and a supporting means carrying the said pivoted means and permitting the movement thereof.

4-. In a golf practicing and training device, in combination, an elongated pliable member, an engaging means secured to one end thereof, a tensing means secured to the opposite end thereof, a plurality of means of a relatively greater thickness than the elongated pliable member fixedly carried thereon at spaced apart distances interme- (hate-the ends thereof and a pivoted means actuated by the said elongated pliable 1ne1nher and the enlargements thereon.

5. In a golf practicing and training device. in combination, an elongated pliable member, an engaging means secured to one end thereof, a tensing means secured to he opposite end thereof, a plurality of means of a relatively greater thickness than the elongated pliable member fixedly carried thereon at spaced apart distances intermediate the ends thereof, a pivoted means actuated by the said elongated pliable memher and the enlargements thereon, and a supporting means carrying the said pivoted means and permitting the movement thereof.

6. In a golf practicing and training device, in combinatioi'i, an elongated member with an engaging means associated therewith at one end detachably engaging the head-wear of the player and a tensing means associated therewith at the opposite end orting therethrough a continual forward and downward pull on the head of the player, a movable stop-and-release actuated by the said elongated member and the said associated means in the upward and backward movement of the head of the player, a supporting means carrying the said movable stop-and-release and permitting the movement thereof, a striking means held and released by the said movable stop-and release and an ilarm hit by the said striking means.

7. In a golf practicing and training device, in con'ibination, an elongated mentiber with an engaging means associated therewith at one end detachably engaging the headwear of the player and a tensing means associated therewith at the opposite end exerting therethrough a continual forward and downward pull on the head of the player, a movable stop-and-release actuated by the said elongated member and the said associated means in the upward and backward movement of the head of the player, a supporting means carrying the said movable stop-and-release and permitting the movement thereof, a striking means held and re leased by the said movable stop-and-release, an alarm hit by the said striking means, a pivoted interfering bar moving into and out of interference with the said striking means, a pintle, a means pivoted on the said pintle, adapted to revolve thereon when hit by a club in the hands of the player, contacting with and actuating the said pivot ed interfering bar and a register means contacting with and actuated by the said pintle pivoted revolving means recording the revolutions thereof.

8. In a golf practicing and training device, in combination, an elongated mei'nber, an engaging means secured to one end thereof, adapted for detachable connection with the head-wear of the player, a tensing means secured to the said elongated member maintaining a continual pull on the said engaging means, a pivoted means in frictional contact with the said elongated member and actuated thereby and serrations provided on the said pivoted means wherein the said elongated member *atches.

9. In a golf practicing and training device, in combination, an elongated member, an engaging means secured to one end there of, adapted for detachable connection with the head-Wear of the player, a tensing means secured to the said elongated member, exerting a continual pull on the said engaging means, a plurality of means of a relatively greater thickness than the elongated. mean ber fixedly carried thereon at spaced apart distances intermediate the ends thereof, a pivoted means, in frictional contact with the said elongated member and the enlargements thereon, adapted, when-in one position, to catch with the said enlargements on the elongated member and to release the said'enlargements, when the said pivoted means is moved into another position.

10. In a golf practicing and training device, in combination, an elongated member, an engaging means secured to one end thereof, adapted for detachable connection with the head-wear of the player, a tensing means secured to the said elongated member exerting a continual pull on the said engaging means, a plurality of means of a relatively greater thickness than the elongated member fixedly carried thereon at spaced apart distances between the ends thereof, a pivoted means in frictional contact with and actuated by the said elongated pliable member and the enlargements thereon, a supporting means carrying the said pivoted means and permitting the movement thereof and serrations provided'on the said pivoted mean-s wherewith the said enlargements on the elongated member catch.

11. In a golf practicing and and training. device, in combination, an elongated member, an engaging means provided on one end thereof, adapted to detachably connect with, and suspend the said elongated membelr from, the head-wear of the player, a pivoted means in frictional contact with and operated by the said suspended elongated member, in a movement of the head of the player, and'tensing means provided on the said elongated member, adapted to increase its pull on the head-wear of the player and its friction with the said pivoted means.

12. In a golf practicing and training device, in combination, an elongated member, an engaging means provided on one end thereof adapted to detachably connect with, and suspend the said elongated member from the head-wear of the player, a pivoted means in frictional contact with and actuated by the said suspended elongated member, in a movement of the head of the player, and a series of means provided on the said elongated member forming irregularities thereon, at spaced apart distances intermediate its ends, adapted to catch with the said pivoted means.

13. In a golf practicing and training device, in combination, an elongated member, an engaging means provided on one end thereof adapted to detachably connect with, and suspend the said elongated member from, the head-wear of the player, a pivoted means provided with serrations wherewith the said suspended elongated member frictionally contacts and actuates the said pivoted member, in a movementof the head of the player, and tensing means provided on the elongated member adapted to increase its pull on the head-wear of the player and its friction with the said serrated pivoted means.

1 1. In a golf practicing and training device, in combination, an elongated member, an engaging means provided on one end thereof adapted to detachably connect with, and suspend the said elongated member from, the head-wear of the player, a pivoted means in frictional contact with the said elongated member, serrations provided on the said pivoted means and a series of means provided on the said elongated member forming irregularities thereon, at spaced apart distances intermediate its ends, adapted to catch with the said serrations on the said pivoted means and actuate the said pivoted means, in a movement of the head ofthe player.

15. In a golf practicing and training device, in combination, an elongated member, an engaging means provided on one end thereof adapted to detachably connect with, and suspend the said elongated member from, the head-wear of the player, a plurality of means provided on the said elongated member forming irregularities thereon, a movable stop-and-release in frictional contact with and actuated by the said elongated member and said irregularities thereon, in a movement of the head of the player, and a supporting means carrying the said movable stop-and-release and permitting the movement thereof.

16. In a golf practicing and training device, in combination, an elongated member detachably connected by one end to the headwear of the player and reciprocally operated forward and backward by and through the respective forward and baclnvard movements of the head of the player, a rigid support, a movable means carried by the support and freely operative thereon frictionally coutacted with and actuated by the elongated anember, a rest adapted to inertly sustain the movable means during the forward movement of the elongated member and a guiding means adapted to retain the elongatedmember in operative connection with the movable means.

17. In a golf practicing and training device, in combination, an elongated member detachably connected by one end to the headwear of the player and reciprocally actuated forward and backward by and through the respective forward and backward movements of the head of the player, a rigid support, a movable means carried by the support and freely operative thereon frictionally contacted with and actuated by the clon gated member and a rest adapted to inertly sustain the movable means during the forward movement of the elongated member,

1.8. In a golf training and practicing device, in combination, an elongated member detachably connected by one end to the headwear of the player and reciprocally actuated forward and backward by and through the respective forward and backward movc ments of the head of the player, a rigid sup port, a movable means carried by the support and freely operative thereon provided with engaging means frictionally contacted with by the elongated member, said engaging means being adapted to permit the disengaging riding thereover of the said elongated member during its forward movement and to engage with and hold to the said elongated member in its bacluvard movemei'it, and a rest adapted to inertly sustain the movable means during the forward movement of the elongated member.

19. In a golf practicing and training device, in combination, an elongated member detachably connected by one end to the headwear of the player and reciprocally actuated forward and backward by and through the respective forward and backward movements of the head of the player, a rigid support, a. movable means carried by the sup )ort and freely operative thereon 'lrictionally contacted with and actuated by the elongated member, a rest adapted to inertly sustain the movable means during the forward movement of the elongated member and projections on the elongated member adapted to augment its friction with the movable means.

20. In a golf practicing and training device, in combination, an elongated member detachably connected by one end to the headwear of the player and reciprocally actuated backward and forward by and through the respective forward and backward movements of the head of the player, a rigid support, a movable means carried by the support and freely operative thereon friction-ally contacted with and actuated by the elongated member, a rest adapted to inertly sustain the movable means during the for ard movement of the elongated member and weighting means on the elongated member adapted to increase its pull on the head of the player and its friction with the movable means.

21. In a golf practicing and training device, in combination, a support, a movable means freely operative thereon, an elongated member detachably connected by one end to the head-wear of and transmitting movements of the head of the player to and actuating the said movable means and a rigid rest disposed in the line of travel of the said movable means adapted to prevent its travel in one direction and to permit its travel in an opposite direction.

May 11th, 1923.

lVILLIAM J. GOLDSVVORTHY. 

